Cup Gala Sets Sail on a Sea of Champagne : Night Life: The two main contenders squared off over some bubbly, while 2,600 guests scampered for seats.

To remark that the Moor of Venice met a Cuben sounds--even though the rendezvous occurred--distressingly like the post-mortem of a professional wrestling match or, worse, like the plot of a science-fiction movie based on a bastardized version of “Othello.”

But the act did happen and the occasion was, in fact, social--very social, since Il Moro de Venezia skipper Paul Cayard and America 3 syndicate chief Bill Koch (whose teammates are called “Cubens”) faced off gallantly over a monumental pyramid of Champagne glasses at the equally monumental America’s Cup Ball, launched May 7 at the San Diego Convention Center as a five-hour cruise for a no less monumental crowd of 2,600.

The Champagne house of Moet et Chandon, the “official Champagne of the America’s Cup,” arranged the meeting, in which the competitors patiently spilled double magnums of bubbly stuff over the glassware while looking very much as if they would prefer to be squaring off across the waves.

On that memorable night, San Diego showed its stuff to the international sailing community, and came off as a charming ingenue quite eager to pursue future trysts. This was a ball on a scale without precedent in this city, and one that doubtless left a lasting impression upon the hundreds of locals and hundreds of visitors in attendance.

Because this is an informal city, the decision was made months ago to proceed with the briefest of formal programs; NBC sports commentator and La Jolla resident Charlie Jones introduced Cayard, Koch, their teams and a few America’s Cup notables, but otherwise guests were directed to devote themselves to dining at the dozen buffets, ogling the sailing celebrities and dancing to famed society bandleader Peter Duchin and his orchestra. These amusements sufficed.

The affair took place under the sail-like fabric roof of the Convention Center’s open-air terrace, lit exotically with colored lights, ventilated by zephyrs prowling off the bay and surrounded by a shy mist that hung at the perimeters. For some reason, the mist glowed a vague green and suggested that the throng was cocooned in a sail loft of unsurpassable dimensions. There was no arguing with the setting.

A minor misfortune did rudely thrust its mainmast over the horizon a few hours before the first guests arrived; the seating chart that would have directed the 2,600 to their tables failed to materialize. Just before the ball commenced, chairwoman Jane Fetter, looking a bit wide-eyed but still smiling, said, “We’ve got 2,600 guests and we don’t know where to seat a single one of them. Otherwise, everything is beautiful.”

Some out-of-towners did respond in rather unfriendly fashion to the suggestion that they grab a table and sit at it, but, among locals, it was considered bad form to cavil at the snafu.

Karon Luce, who with her husband, Gordon, headed the America’s Cup Protocol Committee, later said, “A little disaster can make a party fabulous. Everything was right, the decor, the music, the food. It was the best party ever, and everybody there was a VIP--it’s all in your own attitude how well you adjust to circumstances.”

Committee member Berneice Copeland said, “This is San Diego, we’re informal, we can roll with the punches. Open seating is no problem in this town.” A member of the Italian team enchanted Fetter by requesting that, should Il Moro capture the Cup, she chair the America’s Cup Ball that would be given in Venice.

Nearly everyone seemed to adjust to the circumstances quite well, and once the forays to secure tables had been made, the party caught the breeze stirred by Duchin’s alternating offerings of Big Band and rock anthems. Even given the size of the terrace, the dimensions of the party strained the eyes--more than 260 tables stretched out in orderly but nearly endless ranks, each marked attractively if rather uselessly by spinnakers stenciled with the table’s number. The motif, a pure, neutral white that avoided allegiance to any nation’s team colors, included chairs slipcovered in white and splendid arrangements of ivory tulips and calla lilies.

The majority of the teams that failed to qualify for the Cup finals also failed to show at the ball, but Dennis Conner was there with his wife, Judy, and skippers Marc Pajot of the French Le Defi Francais entry and Rod Davis of the New Zealand syndicate also attended. Koch wore black tie, but the majority of his Cubens sported team dress--helmsman Buddy Melges attended, of course--as did Cayard and his teammates. The crested blazers and white ducks stood out in a way that defined star quality more by the cut of one’s jib than the peak of one’s lapel.

The guest list also included San Diego Yacht Club Commodore Fred Delaney, who assured the crowd that “This ball is a tremendous success,” and America’s Cup Organizing Committee chief Malin Burnham, who confessed himself more than happy with the event. “We’ve been planning this a long time,” said Burnham. “Everybody’s here. It’s nice to have our little party on the bay front.”

Assorted America’s Cup and America’s Cup Ball sponsors attended, including J.P. Morgan President George Rowe and Cadillac President John Grettenberger. ESPN President Steve Bornstein was joined at his table by chief race commentator Jim Kelly. The local list included newly named Ambassador to Spain Dick Capen and his wife, Joan; Kay North; Jinx and Paul Ecke; Marian and Wally Trevor; Virginia and Jack Monday; Joy and Fred Frye; Marilyn and Kim Fletcher; Supervisor Brian Bilbray and his wife, Karen; Roberta Burnham; Trevor and Melissa Fetter; Port Commissioner Clifford Graves; Susie and Tom Armstrong; Heidi Dunn with Bill Waite; Janet Gallison; Sue Raffee, and Kai Rosenthal.

More than 670 alumni of San Diego State University came together at Saturday’s “Those Were the Days” alumni awards gala to chew over memories, and managed to come away with plenty of fodder for future nostalgia.

Very few of the grads and university supporters in the San Diego Marriott’s Marina Ballroom were prepared for one highlight, but responded with glee when Gayle Wilson stepped to the microphone to warble a little ditty entitled “What Would We Do Without You, Bobby.” The piece was aimed at Bob White, the evening’s special honoree and, of course, chief of staff to Gov. Pete Wilson throughout his political career.

“Anyone with good sense wouldn’t try to follow that act,” said the governor after his wife had warbled the last note. “But then, anyone with sense wouldn’t run for governor.” Later, Wilson said of White, “He is the kind of person who has lived a life that bespeaks generosity. He’s just a kid, but he’s already done enough in one life that he can just coast the rest of the way.”

The Wilsons headed a politico-heavy guest list drawn to the event by the chance to honor White, who said of all the fuss on his behalf, “It feels fun.” Although the dinner, the 15th in an annual series, honored a total of nine distinguished alumni, co-chairs Nikki Clay and Cheryl Kendrick credited White with boosting attendance well above that at previous events.

Clay, who pegged the gala’s earnings for SDSU academic programs at more than $40,000, said, “That Bob is being honored has brought a lot of alums out. The fun part for me is that I went to school with him, and you feel as if you’ve finally come of age when a schoolmate is honored.”

“It’s an understatement to call tonight a success,” added Kendrick. “The evening gives the people of San Diego a chance to thank Bob for everything he has done.”

Of the turnout, university President Tom Day said, “This gala is an outstanding reminder of my good fortune to preside over one of the finest universities in the nation, which soon will have a 100-year history of excellence.”

Everybody, in fact, said nice things about everyone and everything through the evening, including master of ceremonies and former U.S. Representative Clair Burgener, who introduced local Mayoral candidates Tom Carter, Susan Golding and Ron Roberts (Peter Navarro did not attend) and a slew of other politicians.

The program proceeded during the dinner of mushroom soup and beef filet Perigourdine; honored alumni of the school’s seven colleges and Imperial Valley campus were Susan Swenson, Arthur Barron, Sandra McBrayer, William H. Lowe, Del M. Anderson, L. Brooks Anderholt, Michael Madigan and Julie Haymes Lutz.